Tuesday's letters: Real heroes

Published: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 12, 2012 at 5:22 p.m.

To the editor: We have “honest to God” heroes living among us here. It didn’t strike home until we recently lost a friend, Tony Slovacek, and were present at his funeral at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Although we knew Tony had served in the Army, we had no idea of the extent of his service. It was only after his passing that we learned he had served for 27 years as an Airborne Ranger. He served two tours in Vietnam and earned three Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, seven Air Medals, the Legion of Merit plus other combat awards. After retiring from active duty, he continued to serve his country in the Department of Defense and the Army Personnel Command. This was the man we knew little about.

The Tony we knew was a fun-loving person who never met a stranger, was never at a loss for words and always had a joke. He gave of his “free” time to city boards and committees, his church, several service groups and youth activities. This was the man most of us knew.

May he rest in peace. God bless him and all veterans.

Doris Renz

Hendersonville

Hypocrisy

To the editor: I watched Bill Clinton give a speech for Barack Obama in Pennsylvania. He attacked Mitt Romney about his claim that Fiat and Jeep would build Jeeps in China.

He accused Romney of not being truthful time and again and of lying about Jeep. Clinton went on to say that when he was a kid growing up and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he had to ’fess up. But not this Romney, he just kept on being untruthful. Lying.

However, it was Mr. Clinton as president in the White House who had his hands all over Monica Lewinsky, and then went on national TV and lied time and again to the American people. Mr. Obama in 2008 on the campaign trail said it was unpatriotic of President George W. Bush to run the deficit up over $4 trillion in eight years and have our children pay for it all. Mr. Obama, you ran the deficit up over $4 trillion in four years. Then are you unpatriotic, and our children are left with a larger debt.

America deserves better.

John Coulter

Hendersonville

‘Red’ again

To the editor: The conservative voters of Henderson County should be encouraged that we have never been more dominant in our county, district and state than on Election Day this year despite feeling bruised by the White House defeat.

We turned North Carolina “red” again after Barack Obama’s 14,000-vote win here in 2008.

We ended 20 years of Democratic rule in Raleigh with the election of Pat McCrory as governor.

McCrory will deliver bold reforms in education, regulations, taxes and election law so we can have some of the progress that has been seen in states such as Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.

Tom Apodaca will be returning to Raleigh (with expanded majorities in both the House and Senate) in his leadership position, and he will now find a hand in partnership instead of a veto pen.

Mark Meadows will now represent us in Congress, and the voters of Henderson County will again have their will reflected.

Justice Paul Newby was re-elected to the N.C. Supreme Court, maintaining the conservative court majority, which is key on issues such as voter ID, school choice and the death penalty.

We delivered an average of a 2-to-1 margin of votes in all of the above races — be proud!

<p>To the editor: We have honest to God heroes living among us here. It didn’t strike home until we recently lost a friend, Tony Slovacek, and were present at his funeral at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.</p><p>Although we knew Tony had served in the Army, we had no idea of the extent of his service. It was only after his passing that we learned he had served for 27 years as an Airborne Ranger. He served two tours in Vietnam and earned three Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, seven Air Medals, the Legion of Merit plus other combat awards. After retiring from active duty, he continued to serve his country in the Department of Defense and the Army Personnel Command. This was the man we knew little about.</p><p>The Tony we knew was a fun-loving person who never met a stranger, was never at a loss for words and always had a joke. He gave of his free time to city boards and committees, his church, several service groups and youth activities. This was the man most of us knew.</p><p>May he rest in peace. God bless him and all veterans.</p><p><em>Doris Renz</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Hypocrisy</h3>
<p>To the editor: I watched Bill Clinton give a speech for Barack Obama in Pennsylvania. He attacked Mitt Romney about his claim that Fiat and Jeep would build Jeeps in China.</p><p>He accused Romney of not being truthful time and again and of lying about Jeep. Clinton went on to say that when he was a kid growing up and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he had to ’fess up. But not this Romney, he just kept on being untruthful. Lying.</p><p>However, it was Mr. Clinton as president in the White House who had his hands all over Monica Lewinsky, and then went on national TV and lied time and again to the American people. Mr. Obama in 2008 on the campaign trail said it was unpatriotic of President George W. Bush to run the deficit up over $4 trillion in eight years and have our children pay for it all. Mr. Obama, you ran the deficit up over $4 trillion in four years. Then are you unpatriotic, and our children are left with a larger debt.</p><p>America deserves better.</p><p><em>John Coulter</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Red’ again</h3>
<p>To the editor: The conservative voters of Henderson County should be encouraged that we have never been more dominant in our county, district and state than on Election Day this year despite feeling bruised by the White House defeat.</p><p>We turned North Carolina red again after Barack Obama’s 14,000-vote win here in 2008.</p><p>We ended 20 years of Democratic rule in Raleigh with the election of Pat McCrory as governor.</p><p>McCrory will deliver bold reforms in education, regulations, taxes and election law so we can have some of the progress that has been seen in states such as Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.</p><p>Tom Apodaca will be returning to Raleigh (with expanded majorities in both the House and Senate) in his leadership position, and he will now find a hand in partnership instead of a veto pen.</p><p>Mark Meadows will now represent us in Congress, and the voters of Henderson County will again have their will reflected.</p><p>Justice Paul Newby was re-elected to the N.C. Supreme Court, maintaining the conservative court majority, which is key on issues such as voter ID, school choice and the death penalty.</p><p>We delivered an average of a 2-to-1 margin of votes in all of the above races  be proud!</p><p><em>Robert Danos</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>